What is Carpal Tunnel Release?
Carpal tunnel release is an intrinsic surgical procedure that is carried out to help provide relief for patients diagnosed with CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome).
CTS is a hand and wrist complaint that is caused when swelling occurs in hand affecting the tissue in the carpal tunnel. This swelling places pressure on nerves (in particular the median nerve) and tendons that bend the fingers, which causes the most discomfort and pain.
Symptoms and swelling can often start off slow and gradually get worse over time if left untreated. Most patients will also experience more pain on the thumb side of the hand.
Unfortunately, CTS is believed to be a condition that runs within families as well as being caused by injuries to hands through sprains, fractures, and repetitive use of vibrating tools.
It’s also important to be aware that pregnancy, diabetes, thyroid disease, and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause CTS.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The symptoms and signs of CTS can include:
- Numbness in hands and fingers
- A tingling sensation similar to pins and needles
- Consistent pain/dull ache across the hand
- Pain that mainly affects the thumb, index and middle fingers
- Swelling in the fingers, which increases during the night.
Many patients find that symptoms are worse at night, and this is because your body is relaxed and still so stiffness in the hands and fingers can occur. This is why you will find that shaking your hands offers a small relief to some of the symptoms mentioned above.
We understand that CTS can impact your everyday life, so we know how vital surgery can be to you.
That’s why we will meet with you and discuss in detail the process that we will carry out as well as pre and post-op care.
It’s also an excellent opportunity for you to meet the team and have your questions answered, putting your mind at rest that your hands are most definitely in the right hands.
Non-surgical treatment
At The Amir Tadros Hand Clinic, we will always take the time to discuss alternative treatments with you and non-surgical routes if applicable.
Taking into consideration remedies such as painkillers and splints, which can often help in the short-term (resting splints can also be particularly beneficial at night).
As well as steroid injections into the carpal tunnel, which can also help to alleviate symptoms and provide you with a lot more comfort as you go about your day-to-day activities.
If carpal symptoms are apparent during the last trimester of pregnancy, a splint or steroid injection can be offered; as in these cases, we often find that most symptoms will resolve themselves a few months after the baby is born.
Of course, non-surgical routes do only provide a temporary solution.
Surgery
Carpal tunnel surgery is typically a day case procedure, where you will come into our surgery, have your operation, and go home on the same day. Offering you complete convenience. There’s no need to pack an overnight bag or make any longer-term arrangements while you’re away.
The operation itself will involve dividing a ligament in your wrist to relieve the pressure on the nerve that controls movement and feeling in your hand.
Traditional surgery will involve up to a 2-inch incision in the palm and wrist area.
Endoscopic surgery will involve one or two half-an-inch incisions and the use of an endoscope.
Both surgeries will be carried out under local anaesthetic. This means you will be awake during the operation, but you won’t be able to feel anything, and we will throughout continue to make sure you’re comfortable and at ease.
During the surgery itself, we will dissect the transverse carpal ligament, which will relieve the pressure on the median nerve and in turn, enlarge the carpal tunnel. Releasing the pressure and tension that has been causing the pain.
Our specialist hand and wrist surgeons will work with you, your symptoms, and medical conditions to provide you with the best and most suitable options for you.
Treated like individuals always, we recognise that everyone suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome is different and, as such we tailor surgical plans and care accordingly.
